Basilica E-News
March 5, 2020
Cold & Flu Season

Due to the cold and flu season, complicated by concerns over the novel coronavirus, St. Joseph will discontinue sharing the Precious Blood during Mass until further notice. Jesus is fully present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, under either species. 

During this time, please refrain from offering your hand to others at the sign of peace. Remember that it is not required or advisable to attend Mass if you are ill. Take care of your health and of those around you.

Daylight Saving, March 8


Don't forget to turn your clocks one hour ahead on Saturday night so you will be on time for Sunday Masses.
Feast of St. Joseph, Thursday, March 19
Bishop Barber will celebrate with the Parish Community in a joint liturgy with our two schools at 8:30 am Mass in the High School's Gym.  Please note the 8 am Mass is canceled.

St. Joseph Day Celebration,  Sunday, March 22
Bishop Barber will celebrate with us again at the 11:30 am Mass. After Mass, join us to celebrate our Patron Saint and also honor recipients of our St. Joseph-St. Damien Awards.  Please sign up in the Basilica if you will be joining us for lunch.

We are looking for wine donations for our St. Joseph Day Celebration.  If you can help by donating a bottle or more of white or red wine, please drop it off at the Parish office by March 18 or call Teri Rose (510) 846.0720. Thanks for your help in making our St. Joseph Day a day to remember.

Tonight:

6:00 pm - Lenten Soup Meal, Notre Dame Hall

7:00 pm - Spiritual Reflection,  Parish Center (St. Joseph Room) at Lafayette Street (Note: change in location) . Here  for details
Speaker:  Teri Rose - long-time parishioner who served on the former Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius team.

This Weekend

Friday, March 6
Morning First Friday Eucharistic Adoration canceled. 

Flame of Love Rosary Prayer Group: After 8 am Mass (rescheduled)

Funeral: Mary Turowski, RIP
11:00 am, Basilica

6:30 pm: Stations of the Cross, followed by Eucharistic Adoration ending at 8:00 pm

Saturday, March 7
Funeral: Vi Cary RIP
11:00 am, Basilica

St. Patrick's Day Dinner - Saturday, March 7
Join  our  Knights of Columbus as we serve you  a delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner  at Notre Dame Hall.  Dinner will be served 5 to 7 pm, with fellowship until 9 pm.   $15 per person (half off for kids under 12)
Tickets sold at the door - first come, first serve.   Flyer   here

Sunday, March 8
Legion Of Mary 'Colombian Drive' Recruitment of New Members
The Legion of Mary is an international association of Catholic men and women dedicated to our Lady, living their faith through prayer and service. Learn more after the morning Masses where members will be at the Gathering Space to share information and answer questions.
 
Quilt Raffle
Martha Bertelsen who is donating two of her handmade quilts to benefit the Oakland Catholic Worker, will be selling raffle tickets for $5 each (or 5 tickets for $20) after all the Masses this weekend and for the next two weekends through 11:30 am Mass. See her at the Gathering Space after Mass.  Drawings will be at the St. Joseph Day Party, March 22. 

Covenant of Love Date Night 
Grab your spouse or your betrothed and join us for special Date  Night, 
Saturday, March 14 at the Parish Center. 
Ed Hopfner,   Director of Family Life of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will   guide us in a discussion and reflection on Marriage and the  Eucharist. 6:30pm arrival and pot luck. Talk begins 7pm. As  always, child care is available with an RSVP. See the web page  for more details and to RSVP here
Upcoming Events

March 8: Legion of Mary: Colombian Drive/Membership Recruitment, after all Morning Masses
March 14: 6:30 pm Covenant of Love Date Night & Potluck
March 19: Feast of St. Joseph celebrated at 8:30am Mass, High School gym
March 22: St. Joseph Day Celebration, after 11:30 am Mass


News around the Block...

SJND Flight Plan weekly newsletter  here.

St. Joseph Elementary School weekly news  here.


C atholic Young Adults Group  events and weekly newsletter available  here .


Young Families Group monthly update here

Parish Office Volunteers Help Needed urgently!

We need your help on Monday afternoons, 1:00 - 5:00 pm on a regular basis.  The office needs someone who can help with reception duties, some admin and computer work.  Please email Sherley Lim : secretary@sjbalameda.org if you can help. Thank you.
Lenten Events around the Deanery...

St. Philip Neri / St. Albert Family Film Night
Saturday, March 21 at 6:30 pm, St. Albert Great Hall.

We are invited to attend the Family Film Night, with movies that are educational, stimulating and timely.  Our first amazing movie is "No Turning Back", the autobiographical story of Fr. Donald Calloway, renowned speaker and pilgrimage leader who tells us in his own words how he went from "bad boy" to a life dedicated to Christ and His Holy Mother.  Refreshments served. 


St. Barnabas Mini Day of Reflection:
The Passion of Christ in Our Lives - Reflection on Mathew's Passion Account
Saturday, March 28 9:00 am - 12:0 noon
St. Barnabas School, Room 4 (followed by lunch)
For details please contact Madelen Lontiong (510) 482-1286, or pick up a registration form from St. Barnabas Parish Office if you plan to attend.
 

Census 2020 starts mid-March - Information and Resources

In mid-March homes in the whole country will receive invitations to participate in the Census 2020. Participation in the Census is required by law, and people will be able to respond online, by phone or by mail. If there is no response, a census worker will pay the home a visit to collect the information. 
We are hoping to provide guidance to all of our parishioners on how to participate as well as how to ensure that everyone gets counted. According to Census.gov, communities at higher risk of not being counted could include: Asian-American/ Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Farmworkers, Homeless, Immigrants & Refugees, Latinos/as with limited English Proficiency, Middle Eastern & North African and Parents of Children 0-5 years.

To read more on  U.S. Bishops on the Census here
Additional resources, read here


Cathedral Shop Closing
After 12 years of business, The Cathedral Shop is closing at the end of March. This will allow the Diocese to explore another purpose for this space. A purpose which will remain true to the mission of the Cathedral/Diocesan Community. We would like to thank you for your patronage that has helped to support our ministry.Our Closing Sale begins on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
Doors open @ 10:00 am.


Our Savior Christ Jesus... abolished death and brought life and immortality
 to light through the Gospel.  --2 Timothy 1:10

Sunday Readings   here

Worth Reminding...

Phishing by Scammers

Please be wary of scammers who make attempts to take advantage of our willingness to help the Church and those in need. The scam involves someone impersonating a priest or other members of staff by email, asking for you to purchase gift cards and then transmit the codes back to the scammer.  
 
Please know Fr. Mario or staff  will never solicit gift cards or ask you to wire transfer money.  Always take care in sharing personal information by email or online.  For more information about this and other scams, the Federal Trade Commission link ( here to link) will gives more details about the scam and how to protect yourself.
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Children's Faith Formation Classes for children age 4 through Junior High on Sunday mornings after 9:30 am Mass. For details here . Or email Anne Marie, afourre@sjbalameda.org

Enrich your spiritual life through FORMED; register at  formed.org
(there is an App for that!)

Interested in becoming Catholic and/or preparing for sacraments? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adult (RCIA) is available year-round.  Click here for information.

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